Day 3 – Canada 🇨🇦 – NFD

Had a good FD yesterday and feeling great today. A small loss on the scales and I resolve not to overeat today. The sun is shining and I have a tennis game this morning, life is good. 😊

I can’t remember who mentioned that without exercise they don’t lose weight, I too am like that. Just a 30 minute walk makes all the difference.

@stitchincarol I drink coffee every morning, a few cups with lots of 1% milk, couldn’t live without it! No idea if it has an impact on my fasting but like @funshipfreddie I still seem to be able to lose weight so it’s staying. 😌

Take care all.

Day 3, UK, FD

@stitchincarol – Thank you so much for hosting! I love the aspirational theme…! I also love the emphasis on health, not just on weight loss… a few people have picked out that they saw Michael Mosley’s programme in 2013 about living for eternity (just kidding!) about living a longer, healthier life and I too fast for health reasons as well as weight management reasons.

I am back from holiday, so I’m sorry to be late the party.

Fasting today… not finding it too difficult given that I have been on holidays, phew!!!

I was really happy with my weight before heading off on holidays (although in theory I still had 3.6 LBS to go before reaching my goal weight). However now I am back, I don’t think I will weigh myself until I have a FD or two under my belt!!!!
This makes me think of one of @at‘s sayings… can’t quite remember it, but it is about being glad about the place you were in, but only realising that retrospectively!!

@emma taylor } Leeds! Leeds! Leeds! I went to Uni there, such a great city!
@brightonbelle }

2nd post

Thanks @at and everyone for the warm welcome!
Hope it’s okay to pass on the spreadsheet….I’ve set myself a calendar on my iPad for tracking. And I’ll happily check in daily on the thread for accountability.

@songbirdme After 20 years in Colorado, selling home & then building a new house across the country, then quitting my job (Loved 💕my coworkers!) lead to some junky stress eating, for sure.
My DH assures me we are okay to retire early, but I miss the structure/ camaraderie/ paycheck of working. There’s no shortage of demand for O.R. Surgical Nurses, so I may pick up part time work to keep my skills sharp!

@stitchincarol …. I think the author you mentioned is Gin Stephens.
She wrote “Delay, Don’t Deny” and “Fast, Feast, Repeat.”

They adhere quite firmly to the Clean Fast: Nothing allowed but plain black coffee, plain black or green tea, and plain flat or bubbly water. No milk cream, sweeteners, lemon, gum, mints or flavors of any kind until your eating window opens.

This is to ensure no spikes or surges of insulin, in order to burn thru stored glycogen & enter ketosis. That’s when your body switches from sugar-burning to accessing stored energy (body fat.)
Also, avoiding all calories/ flavors etc helps to ramp up autophagy & HGH (human growth hormone) to preserve and build muscle.

But no worries…. It all depends on your goals as to how strict you choose to be.
Every body is different (genetics, gut microbiome, medical history, etc) We are an experiment of one n= 1.

Read, watch videos, ask questions, educate yourself to find what works BEST for YOU and your body, what gets the results (weight loss, vibrant health!) you seek. Keep adjusting to find your formula. Tweak it till it’s easy & becomes a WOL.

Day 3 – UK – CD

Out for my regular group walk this morning – weather was perfect – sunny, warm and a lovely intermittent breeze! Coffee sitting in the park afterwards getting a chance to catch with runners/walkers.

After a successful FD500 yesterday, I’m following @stitchincarol advice and I’m resolving for a CD today and having entered everything on MFP it shows me how manageable it is

@stitchincarol and others re: the question about coffee/chewing gum messing up fasting – I think it does if you are aiming to get into ketosis and looking for the health benefits fasting brings.
Dr Jason Fung says “people will have to strictly adhere to water if they wish to attain the other benefits of fasting. The protein present in bone broth or cream, for example, will turn off autophagy, the process in which cells degrade and recycle themselves”
However my understanding is if you’re just trying to lose weight you can do coffee with a little cream or tea with a dash of milk in your fasting window and you can eat 500/800 calories and lose weight.
@daffodil2010 – great to have you with us once more – good to hear that you had a fab weekend away in the camper van
@babs_b – good to hear that my resolve to close that kitchen door helped you to close yours too last night and we both ended up with a successful FD 👍
@jaifaim – enjoy your time staying with friends on the south coast
@flourbaby – very busy times for you – hopefully the sales/buy and moves go well and what a positive for July with 3lbs dispatched!
@northgeorgia – have you thought of not keeping any tempting snack items in the house – if it’s not there you won’t be tempted…..
@bigh – welcome and I have added you to the spreadsheet if you want to use – the link is on page 1. You can use the link Resources on top of the page and click on BMI calculator to work out your TDEE (TDEE is the number of calories burnt in a day scaling BMR to level of activity. This is the number of calories you need daily to maintain your current weight and is about the amount you should eat on the days you’re not fasting) but make sure you don’t overestimate your activity level!! Another thing you can do is work out your TDEE for your first weight loss target and eat to that to get you used to eating less and it will speed up your weight loss as well.
@high5 – good to have you back with us after your holiday – I’m like you in not weighing myself after a holiday until I have that first FD under my belt 🤣
@happymargo – great job on that first successful FD 👍

@high5 just for you here is my motivating quote “If I quit now, I will soon be back to where I started. And when I started, I was desperately wishing to be where I am now”

Day 3 USA – CD

Going to do a Silver Sneakers class shortly, so hopefully won’t eat anything until a good supper. Can I call that a CD? I hope so,

@happymargo – you have had some real life changes indeed! My parents lived out their years in south Florida and loved it. Dad left the Chicago steel business and did what he considered semi-retirement teaching high school chemistry & physics. I chose to do full retirement from school music teaching right as I turned 65. That allowed me to go right on Medicare, and that helped finances. My school district wanted me to substitute, but I opted just to do private lessons, choirs and church. Good luck to you! BTW, your advice on the physical aspects of our WOL is always appreciated.

@basyjames – changes in exercise also kicks my butt too! Always glad to see you here.

Onward and downward.

Thank you very much. I think this site will help tremendously. Off to get me 250 cal for dinner. Stay strong everyone!

Day 4 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – NFD

Good fast day yesterday, but then DH wanted to share a bottle of wine with me so I had a glass……the reason why I couldn’t say no? Very emotional evening…

Well, DH found out more about his birth mother, what she had called him when he was born, his parents were only 16 and 17 and moved to the UK to try and make a go of it, he was born in the UK, his parents separated, and his birth Mom kept him for 8 months before giving him up for adoption……oh MY it’s so sad.

This time last week he knew nothing of his background, now all this information …..it’s so exciting but overwhelming for him and I have to keep it together to support him.

Still had a loss this morning so having a very controlled NFD with good nutritious foods.

Have a great Wednesday.

That sounds like quite a rollor coaster @Daffodil2020. Lucky you only had one glass. Had a great FD yesterday and aiming for good self control when out for dinner with a friend tonight. Thanks for the welcome to the group.

Day 4 – UK – FD

Blimey @daffodil2010, that must’ve been a hugely emotional evening and no doubt will be for a while as your OH starts to process all of this. Such a sad scenario with his birth mother giving him up for adoption after 8 months. I just can’t imagine. It sounds like you’re being a fantastic support to him through this :-).

@penz, I am completely with you on that. I don’t think I’d have ever achieved proper ketosis either, though I’ve never aimed for it and when I lost weight with the 5:2 previously, my cups of tea and coffee kept me sane so I have no intention of trying to change that. In fact, I did go through a spell where I only drank green teas in the mornings up to the 16 hour fasting point and I didn’t notice any difference in the rate & amount of weight loss compared to when I started the day with a ‘proper’ cup of tea!

A belated hello to @bigh – Scotland is one of my most favourite places and I’m so lucky to have family there too, so I have lots of excuses to visit. I am also looking to shift a similar amount of weight as you are. When I did 5:2 successfully 5 years ago, I shifted about 20lb from mid July – October and that included some weekends away and didn’t track what I ate on NFDs, so I have lots of faith you’ll see the result you want to see too.

Yesterday was a NFD and I didn’t do too badly at all. I woke up this morning feeling a little apprehensive about the FD today, goodness knows why because Monday’s was really successful, so I’ve just got my plan straight in my head:

Lunch: Chicken & veg soup (again…. I’m a creature of habit on a FD)
Dinner: Fishcake with loads of salad/veg

Pocket List – Day 4 🍏
@babs_b

DTF
@penz
@stitchincarol
@happymargo
@babs_b

Day 4 UK NFD

I’m with you in aiming for a nice simple NFD and as you say – what can go wrong? @funshipfreddie

Oh my @daffodil2010 You deffo needed that wine 💕

Yes @babs_b I now have the same things on a FD keeps it nice and simple and most importantly stops me thinking about food

Happy 🐫 day all

Day 4 – Ireland – NFD

Hi all and welcome to BigH, @sugq123, @edzeko and @wetherby whaler, and welcome back @happymargo, @shimmera, @babs_b 👋

I’m having such a lovely time here although the weather is not great (and I’m not fasting -EFSSSSSS!!! 🥴) but it doesn’t matter 👍.

Oh @daffodil2010 that’s so incredibly emotional and sad… but exciting too… thinking of you all 💕

@stitchincarol, @dvw, @songbirdme @basyjames and @high5 well done on your resolve 👏 I’m not doing great but from next Monday I’ll be back on track 🚂

@penz I can relate to your work stresses – this is often my world but it does all tend to work out in the end.. keep sane 💪

@at your weather sounds much better than ours… enjoy!! I did swim yesterday but in drizzle… very changeable here..
@funshipfreddie I often work much the same as you and don’t have many treats in my house which is a shame for unplanned callers… 😂
@bigh I weigh once a week and record it here once a month…

Have a good day everyone.

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others 💕

Day 4 – Florida 🇺🇸 – FD

Please, STOP raining!! ☔️
It’s been difficult getting outdoors for any activity whatsoever. No golfing, pickleball, biking, running, etc has happened for days….Just not worth the risk of getting struck by lightning!

So we joined a gym. It’s a small community gym, but has all the basic essential weights & cardio machines. I’ll go for my second visit today (still a bit sore from my first session on Monday. It was a good workout! Ha!)

Yesterday’s NFD was a nice re-feed, stayed quite close to TDEE. Actually, looking forward to my FD today. Give my body some healing autophagy time!
…. Have a great day, friends!

Pocket List – Day 4 🍏
@babs_b
@dvw
@happymargo
@northgeorgia

Day 4 – UK – TDEE

Another busy day – 90min general yoga class this morning, an afternoon of volunteering, then watched a bit of the cricket 🏏 test match England v India – cooked dinner and before I knew it – it’s gone 8pm already!!!

A good start to this challenge Monday = FD 500 Tuesday = CD 1000 and today below TDEE at 1300 (my TDEE is only around 1500!!!)

@daffodil2010 – what wonderful news for your OH – can totally understand why it’s overwhelming emotionally 🤗
@bigh – I also weigh once a week after my 2nd FD – I find that it helps to keep me on track 🤞
@jaifaim – still being very lucky with the weather 🌤 but apparently we are in for some heavy rain ☔️starting tomorrow afternoon and Friday

Right off to make a cup of tea ensuring that the kitchen door is firmly closed after that!

“Weight loss is not impossible. Weight loss is hard, but hard is not the same as impossible.” – Author Unknown

Does anyone on this forum eat a mostly whole food, plant based diet? Just curious.

Day 5 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – FD

As I type this it looks like I am the first up for Day 5…… Very strange 😀

NFD yesterday was good, straight up nutritious foods, lots of water, and today is my 2nd FD of the week. Bean and spinach salad for lunch then a lentil and veg soup for evening meal.

Thanks all for your comments re the amazing but emotional things going on with DH. He sat down last night and wrote his birth Mom a letter (do you know how difficult it is to get proper bonded writing paper in this age of text and email? But I got him some lovely paper after a search of the shops 👍), he chose some photos to enclose with the letter, and it’s going to the social worker who will post to his birth Mom. Then the communication may commence ☺️.

So I am so proud of him, he really is a kind and gentle man, he wanted me to read the letter and it was perfect, he came through in every word. Not bad for someone who hasn’t written an actual letter in over 25 years.

Everything is going well. I stood on the scale and there was a loss, but I really need to see a different number next week, as I continue to bob between two weigh points. I feel healthier though.

Have a great Thursday everyone.

Day 5 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – FD

@basyjames & @stitchincarol – yes, 2200 cals! So long as I stick to my FDs; and I scoffed & drank every last one of those calories yesterday. Not very good choices though. There were giant salted peanuts; & I’m still trying to get my head into a ‘dry til Fri’ state. It’s like I’m still trying to compensate for our alcohol sales ban, even though I never actually ran out of the stuff!

@daffodil2010 – that can’t have been easy for your DH?! Just picking up a pen these days feel weird, never mind writing a letter!

Let’s make it a good one, Thursday fasters! 🥇

Pocket List – Day 5 🍇
@high5 (The artist formerly known as FiveTwoFan5252)
@daffodil2010
@funshipfreddie

Day 5 – UK – CD

Happy Hour (Aerobics) class at 9am to start the day – warm and sunny for now but rain predicted to start later this afternoon…….a 6pm zoom Pilates to end the day and in between having a lazy day catching up with the olympics and cricket!

Got to get into the garden sometime today to collect what will probably be my last crop of gooseberries and then decide what to do with them……

I have a dentist appointment tomorrow afternoon – just for my regular checkup so will probably do my 2nd FD500 for the week tomorrow then a weigh in on Saturday morning.

Good luck to all those fasting today

Day 4 – Florida 🇺🇸 – NFD. ZBC. 🎉 Party day!
(But *resolve* to get in 20 hour fast first)

Today will be VERY busy for me as I prep the house & food for a little party this evening!

I’m hosting a large gathering to teach a bunch of my friends how to play Samba. A card game similar to Hand & Foot or Canasta.

With the heat, humidity & RAIN here, it’s a good idea to be familiar with a few indoor games & activities to be still be social while inside.
We have several rotating monthly get-togethers for darts + billiards, Mah Jongg, Wine Club, karaoke, dominoes (Mexican Train) and cards (Samba, Euchre, Cribbage.)

Needless to say, these evenings are also a great excuse to serve up a slew of appetizers & finger foods. Definitely NOT a FD!!
However, I will fast right up until just before the guests arrive. Then I’ll open my window with healthy salad + protein so I’m not tempted to immediately hoover up too many party snacks.
Also, it’s only Thursday, but I may have my 2 glasses red wine for this week tonight. Then keep my weekend Dry.

I’m keeping up with all the reading here …Love hearing everyone else’s progress & daily news!
Hope you all have a fabulous day! Cheers!

Almost through my 4th FD since I started this regime. I’m getting into the flow and know that to make this work I need to get into some good regular habits. Found a quick and tasty meal option for my FD days which also happen to be busy days with work and dropping my boy off at football training. My meal tonighy was a chopped babybel cheese, frozen spinach and half a pack of savoury chicken
rice. It was delicious and quick which is half the battle for me. All stuff I can keep supplies of in which means I’ll not be tempted to stray because I’m not organised. All good here although dying to weigh myself. Damm you scales!

Day 6, NFD, Aus

I had one of those egg and bacon muffin things this morning as I knew I wasn’t going to have time for lunch. I don’t usually eat breakfast, and this thing is not agreeing with me. Blech!

Oh wow, @daffodil2010 – what an emotional rollercoaster. How are you both coping with all this new information?

@bigh – I used to jump on the scales the morning after my second weekly FD. To be honest though, I’ve not stepped on for a while because I know I won’t like what they tell me. My preferred gauge to weight loss is not what the scales say, but how my clothes fit. In one sense I really don’t care at all how many kg I am – but I DO want to look good in smaller sized clothing and to feel better in myself. I like @brightonbelle’s approach the best (only record it when the number goes down ).

Love your honesty, @northgeorgia – I think you’re being honest with yourself too which is more important! August is going to be your month.

What’s pickleball @happymargo? I lived in Tampa for two years and never came across it. Huh. Just googled it. Still have never heard of it, not even by another name. I love this forum for all the things you can learn!

Thanks for the well wishes on my project, @jaifaim and @stichincarol. Just had a very successful meeting with a person who offered the assistance of her team. MUCH appreciated and feeling more in control. A good way to end the week.

How empowering @basyjames, @babs_b – you got this! Such resolve!

We have a cloud weekend forecast ahead of us, but at least it’s not raining!!

One day at a time people. See you Monday!

Day 6 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

I survived yesterday’s FD, just about. Now for 3 consecutive NFDs; which seems a lot after following 4:3 for the last couple of months, & I don’t want to undo the progress I’ve made. I just need go back to my mantra from last year, ‘if I’m not logging it, I’m not scoffing it’. 👀

@at – please could you take a look at the spreadsheet when you have time? I don’t know what’s going on with it; but every time I make an entry the squares above turn green?! And it’s not St Patrick’s Day & I’m sure @flourbaby isn’t even Irish ☘️.

Day 6 – UK – NFD

Yesterday’s NFD was pretty good for cals. I’m having to remember that it’s actually ok for me to eat on my NFDs. I have realised a pattern of behaviour from when it all went a bit wrong previously (when I re-tried the 5:2), that I’d have a good FD and feel really encouraged so would try to do a back to back FDs through the week, but I found that too difficult so would end up eating, feel really bad that I’d messed up my b2b FDs and then feel disheartened that it’d affect my motivation.

I felt that creeping in again yesterday for a short while when I started off really well in the ZBC straight off a good FD on Weds, but as the hunger really crept in at lunch time I stopped it in its tracks by reminding myself I am going back to basics, to exactly how I did it before successfully…. 2 x FD500s a week and not getting too caught up worrying about food the rest of the week. I’m easing myself back in to this WOL and taking small steps. One of the reasons why I loved the 5:2 before was that flexibility – that I only had to be uber disciplined on two days.

So, I’m writing it out here to help reinforce that little bit more too in my mind! 🙂

I am in the ZBC as usual today, lunch will be some kind of salad (yet to decide what I fancy) and dinner this evening will be steak & veg.

I had a change around in my office yesterday and I’m now sitting in a different part of the room with a new desk, new plants around me and a lot less clutter. It’s amazing how having a different perspective can give you a different perspective, so to speak! Lovely to have a little change.

@basyjames – brilliant losses! Well done!

@daffodil2010 – enjoy your time with your dad. It’s lovely you can actually go out for a meal again.

@penz – I have found the same with those breakfast muffins, they can really make me feel grotty once I’ve eaten one even though I quite enjoy the taste at the time

@stitchincarol – amazing that you’ve managed under TDEE so consistently! Well done… brilliant resolve!

@northgeorgia – I’m also on that stretch of NFDs now too, so doing the same. I’m making sure I’m popping my head in here which really helps to keep me on track

@funshipfreddie – I love that motto! I’m still in two minds about logging everything on NFDs or not. I didn’t do that before, but I did keep a mental tally so I suppose that’s almost the same, I just wasn’t opening an app to do it! I may be joining you with the no log, no scoff mantra if I don’t stay on track over the weekend’s NFDs!! 🙂

Day 6 – Canada 🇨🇦 – NFD

Good morning everybody. Another rainy day so no tennis. I guess that means I can clean those kitchen cupboards, yippee. 😆

No breakfast, cereal with fruit for lunch and a mushroom omelette and salad for dinner. I’m going to try some vegan cheese for the first time. My cheese consumption has been totally out of control so I’m trying a more healthy option.

Take care all.